Dear Diary Episode 23 Recap
> Dear Diary Recap
Ninth Heaven Dragon Lady frantically searched for Duan Shuiliu at the bottom of the cliff, eventually finding him lying motionless by the riverbank. She called out his name, expressing her forgiveness for his past deceptions and urging him to wake up so they could return home. She promised to follow his guidance, even wearing proper shoes as he had once advised, and declared she would not leave with anyone else.
She confessed that he was the only one who truly treated her like a princess, and it was because of him that she finally felt like one, asserting that without his love, she felt insignificant. Meanwhile, Murong Jielun and Chen Meiru's wedding ceremony had begun. They exchanged solemn vows, promising to be in a monogamous relationship and never leave each other until death.
Mei Ru felt a sense of giddiness, uncertain if it was from the wine or her overwhelming happiness. Murong Jielun expressed his desire to take her to his homeland, and Mei Ru responded that by closing their eyes and opening their hearts, they could go anywhere.
In a flash, Mei Ru found herself re-experiencing her childhood, standing before the ancient Babylonian ruins, diligently writing in her diary, like a magnificent painting and a dream where the girl writing in the grand ancient kingdom met the prince. Murong Jielun voiced his honor in marrying her and witnessing her past. Mei Ru then poured out her love for Murong Jielun, stating she was willing to do anything for him, and accepted his proposal.
Their journey, from his emergence in her fantasies to his real-life presence, implicitly unfolded. Mei Ru admitted her conflicting emotions of wanting to leave him yet wanting to embrace him, pondering if these feelings were predetermined. She concluded that love was boundless and uncontrollable, and because of Murong Jielun, she was willing to love the world deeply. They held each other close, wishing for their embrace to last even a moment longer.
Outside, Jiang Hui Zhen was consumed by a bad feeling and desperately wanted to reach Chen Meiru. Ouyang Wen Shan held her back, explaining that in this chaotic and predetermined tragedy, everyone had to make their own choices, and if their fate was to end in sorrow, no one could change it. Jiang Hui Zhen accused him of being cold-blooded, unable to comprehend why people had to die. She pressed him about Duan Shuiliu and Ninth Heaven Dragon Lady's disappearance.
Ouyang Wen Shan grimly informed her that Duan Shuiliu had died, instructing her to prepare herself for the loss of people around her. The King of Babylon was eagerly anticipating his return to ancient Babylon and had sent his subordinate, Keen, to retrieve Chen Meiru's blood for the ritual, believing her destiny was sealed by her diary.
Murong Jielun, however, having learned his true identity and wishing to protect Mei Ru, seized a dagger and stabbed himself, offering his own blood for the sacrifice. He declared he would rather vanish than cooperate with the King's plan. He confronted Ouyang Wen Shan, questioning if he would follow the King's order to harm Mei Ru, reminding him that Mei Ru was Jiang Hui Zhen's best friend and Ouyang would not want Jiang Hui Zhen to suffer more loss.
Moved by Jiang Hui Zhen's pain and his desire to shield her, Ouyang Wen Shan agreed, concluding that only he should be sacrificed, or perhaps all of them should disappear if the King's scheme was unavoidable. In a sudden turn, Ouyang Wen Shan attacked the King's subordinate, Keen, smashing him against a rock and killing him. Murong Jielun's blood successfully activated the passage, causing those who had crossed from Babylon to begin fading away like sand.
Before his complete disappearance, Murong Jielun bid Mei Ru goodbye, stating that the prince was fated to vanish from her life and that this was their perfect ending, though Mei Ru disagreed tearfully. Ouyang Wen Shan, before he too vanished, made a heartfelt address to Jiang Hui Zhen, telling her to always remain cool and achieve her dreams, promising to protect her forever like the stars, even if she forgot him, and expressing his love and hope for a reunion.
One year later, on September 12, 2020, in Yuzhou, Jiang Hui Zhen had become a celebrated Sichuan Opera actress, now known as "International Jiang," with her cross-cultural opera "Amour Before BC" set to tour France. Chen Meiru, however, remained trapped in memories of Murong Jielun, her life in disarray. Unable to bear her friend's suffering, Jiang Hui Zhen gave Mei Ru a ticket to Paris, framing it as a "trip of letting go of the past."
Though initially resistant, Mei Ru eventually accepted, recognizing the need to move on from her painful past. In Paris, Mei Ru left a voicemail for Jiang Hui Zhen, sharing how the city's beauty and carefree atmosphere had begun to bring a smile back to her face. She vowed to return as a transformed Chen Mei Ru, ready for a new beginning. While visiting the Louvre Museum, Mei Ru learned about a newly translated line from the ancient Code of Hammurabi.
To her astonishment, the inscription was the exact marriage vow Murong Jielun had made to her: "I marry you. Monogamous, never separated until old age." This revelation made her realize that Murong Jielun was, in fact, Hammurabi, the sixth king of Babylon. At that very moment, she spotted a man bearing a striking resemblance to Murong Jielun and immediately chased after him, but he quickly vanished into the bustling crowd.
