Resumen del episodio 21 de Operation: Special Warfare
> Resúmenes de Operation: Special Warfare
Ning Meng faced accusations of being a spy. While she maintained an outwardly calm demeanor, stating that her innocence meant she would simply await the investigation's findings, her friends, Tong Mengyao, Xu Dongdong, and Li Sisi, were deeply concerned. Whispers circulated throughout the unit, highlighting the severe repercussions of the alleged leak, with many fearing demotion or even broader implications for Blue Lightning.
Though confident in her integrity, Ning Meng found herself disheartened by the pervasive gossip, recognizing the power of public opinion. Qin Guan tried to console her, assuring her that in the military, the organization's trust was paramount, and she shouldn't let the rumors trouble her. However, Ning Meng worried about her eligibility for the assault team leader position, and Qin Guan's initial hesitation made her doubt her chances. He eventually affirmed his trust in her.
Meanwhile, the male soldiers also found the accusation against Ning Meng unbelievable, suspecting that she had been deliberately framed by someone she had unknowingly offended. Chen Haozhe, eager to intervene, was stopped by Guo Xiaowei, who insisted that awaiting the official investigation was their only recourse, especially since Captain Qin Guan was likely already under immense pressure. Later, Instructor Wen Jing called a meeting for all other female soldiers in her office, conspicuously excluding Ning Meng and Li Sisi.
This oversight deepened Ning Meng's sense of isolation and concern for her candidacy. Li Sisi, her loyal best friend, offered comfort and snacks, reassuring Ning Meng of her unwavering belief in her. Ning Meng, still grappling with who could have orchestrated the frame-up, realized the profound impact the accusation was having, especially after being excluded from Wen Jing's meeting. Soon after, Li Sisi was also called out, leaving Ning Meng alone.
That night, Li Sisi led a confused Ning Meng to the darkened mess hall. To Ning Meng's surprise, the lights suddenly illuminated, revealing Qin Guan and the entire Blue Lightning team, who joyously shouted, "Happy Birthday!" Ning Meng learned that Qin Guan had thoughtfully organized the surprise, even arranging for the team to search the city for an open cake shop and for the quartermaster to unlock the mess hall late at night.
Despite a mix-up that resulted in a tangerine-flavored cake instead of lemon, Ning Meng was deeply touched. She made three wishes: first, for Blue Lightning to be invincible and successfully execute Operation Lightning; second, for the team to always stay united; and her third, a personal wish. After blowing out the candles, she cut the cake. Qin Guan declared that for this special occasion, all ranks were suspended, and they were simply ordinary soldiers free to celebrate and have fun.
Ning Meng wasted no time in playfully smearing cake on Qin Guan's face, initiating a lively cake fight among everyone. Unbeknownst to them, the anonymous report against Ning Meng was the handiwork of Li Li, a subordinate of Wu Jie. Li Li presented Wu Jie with a photo of Ning Meng, identifying her as the armed police soldier who thwarted their "Desert Plan" and as the sister of Ning Lei, who killed "Grass Wolf," creating a "blood debt."
Li Li proudly admitted to sending the anonymous letter to "fix" Ning Meng, expecting praise. Instead, Wu Jie was furious, chastising her for acting without his authorization. He stated that her move was ineffective and would only "alert the enemy," potentially jeopardizing his entire plan. Later, Qin Guan informed Ning Meng that the official investigation had cleared her name; she was not involved in leaking secrets, and the photos were digitally altered.
This meant she was now eligible to compete for the assault team leader position. Qin Guan also revealed that while the immediate issue of the anonymous letter was resolved, it confirmed that an adversary was targeting her. He saw this as an opportunity to "follow the lead" and dismantle the enemy's network, vowing to make them pay. Ning Meng affirmed her familiarity with their new, advanced equipment.
She then inquired about the start date for the assault team leader selection and asked if Qin Guan would support her, to which he responded with a knowing smile. Meanwhile, Qu Bo from the special training team approached Yang Shu during her training session, praising her exceptional marksmanship and quick adaptation to the new equipment, dubbing her "Blue Lightning's sharpshooter." He confidently predicted she would be the next assault team leader, citing her outstanding performance in the recent desert operation.
Yang Shu, visibly discomfited, questioned how he knew about their team's internal selection. Qu Bo explained that Blue Lightning's reputation as the benchmark for the entire force, with its elite personnel and cutting-edge gear, meant that such news was widely known. When pressed for his true intentions, Qu Bo claimed he was merely bored and wanted to chat. Yang Shu retorted, asking who was truly bored, before abruptly walking away.
Following this, Yang Shu formally reported to Qin Guan, who presented her with forty training bullets that he had secured from the branch office. Yang Shu then asked Qin Guan who, between her and Ning Meng, he believed was more suitable to be the assault team leader. Qin Guan maintained his impartiality, stating that he would base his judgment solely on the competition results, emphasizing that "strength speaks for itself."
Soon after, Yang Shu challenged Ning Meng to a private spar in the equipment room. Ning Meng initially saw little point in a private match before the official competition, but Yang Shu upped the ante, proposing that the loser would withdraw from the assault team leader selection. Ning Meng accepted the challenge. They agreed to each select two pieces of suitable equipment and use twenty bullets, with Yang Shu confirming she had already secured Qin Guan's approval.
Yang Shu instructed Ning Meng to meet her at the Multi-function training field once she had made her selections. Unbeknownst to them, Guo Xiaowei overheard their conversation and excitedly informed the other male soldiers that "Blue Lightning's two goddesses" were about to face off, stirring up a desire to covertly watch. However, Chen Haozhe intervened, preventing them from leaving their dormitory. He reminded them of the upcoming official competition and warned them against causing trouble.
Despite their attempts to justify their curiosity as "scouting," Chen Haozhe stood firm, then announced he was heading to the weapons and equipment room to familiarize himself with the new gear, prompting some of the male soldiers to join him. At the Multi-function training field, Ning Meng and Yang Shu commenced their match. Yang Shu's TS1 thermal radar failed to locate Ning Meng, leading Yang Shu to believe the device was malfunctioning.
Ning Meng then proposed they switch to a gun-only contest, which Yang Shu readily accepted. During the intense gunfight, a heavy wooden board began to fall directly towards Yang Shu. Ning Meng, reacting swiftly, shoved Yang Shu out of the way, but in doing so, she sustained a cut on her arm from the falling board. Witnessing Ning Meng's selfless act, Yang Shu immediately conceded defeat, declaring herself thoroughly convinced and announcing her withdrawal from the assault team leader selection.
Ning Meng explained that proving individual superiority was inconsequential to her. She articulated that their selection for Blue Lightning was not based on individual strength but on their capacity for mutual complementarity. She believed that by overcoming personal weaknesses and maximizing collective strengths, Blue Lightning would be invincible. Yang Shu agreed, acknowledging that her previous focus on individual prowess had overshadowed the importance of teamwork. She then asked Ning Meng to identify her weaknesses.
Ning Meng candidly stated that while Yang Shu's confidence was a strength, her "overconfidence" and a distinct lack of trust in her comrades were her drawbacks. She elaborated that Yang Shu had isolated herself, becoming unreceptive to others' strengths and new ideas. Ning Meng then revealed the secret behind the thermal radar's failure: she had used a Thermal radar jammer. This device, equipped with a cutting-edge chip, could emit continuous interference signals, disrupting radar sensitivity and even generating decoy targets.
Yang Shu, surprised by this unknown technology, correctly guessed that it was Tong Mengyao's latest invention, designed as a countermeasure against the potent TS1 thermal radar, which could otherwise penetrate walls and detect any heat source, a vulnerability if acquired by terrorists.
A flashback showed Tong Mengyao initially struggling to borrow the necessary equipment for her invention, until Qin Guan personally intervened, signing a guarantee to allow her to take both the experimental jammer and the TS1 thermal radar, emphasizing that failure was not an option.
In that flashback, Guo Xiaowei, openly skeptical of Tong Mengyao's claims that a modified phone chip could jam the radar, had challenged her, betting that if she succeeded, he would treat all the female soldiers to ice cream, a wager Tong Mengyao eagerly accepted. Returning to the present, Ning Meng explained to Yang Shu that her habit of "fighting alone" and reluctance to communicate had kept her oblivious to Tong Mengyao's groundbreaking device.
Had Yang Shu engaged more with her teammates, she might have known about the jammer and chosen different equipment, potentially altering their match's outcome. Yang Shu admitted that her long-standing solitary habits made it challenging for her to interact with others. Ning Meng, speaking plainly, elaborated that Yang Shu's early achievements and top rank in the shooting team had inadvertently fostered a sense of superiority, leading her to avoid interacting with others.
Yang Shu conceded the truth of this observation and expressed a genuine desire to change but felt lost on how to begin. Ning Meng advised her to overcome her reservations, leverage her strengths to find common ground with teammates, and actively communicate. She reassured Yang Shu that if she was willing to change, everyone would embrace her.
Ning Meng also highlighted Yang Shu's exceptional combat skills, suggesting that by understanding each team member's strengths and fostering teamwork, she could become an outstanding commander. Ning Meng extended an open invitation for Yang Shu to talk with her anytime to discuss their experiences. Yang Shu, now fully understanding, affirmed her acceptance of Ning Meng's critique and her defeat.
Noticing Ning Meng's arm injury from saving her, Yang Shu insisted on accompanying her to the infirmary and promised to wash Ning Meng's clothes until her injury healed, to which Ning Meng jokingly replied that her recovery might take a very long time. Yang Shu later formally reported to Qin Guan, requesting to withdraw from the assault team leader selection.
She explained that she believed Ning Meng was superior and a more fitting candidate, possessing all the necessary abilities and qualities of an exceptional commander. Qin Guan confirmed her decision and accepted her withdrawal. Subsequently, Qin Guan summoned Ning Meng to his office and inquired about her interaction with Yang Shu. Ning Meng, with a hint of pride, explained that Yang Shu had proposed a preliminary match, a "simple spar," which Ning Meng had won.
Qin Guan, however, was quick to temper her enthusiasm, reminding her that Chen Haozhe remained a formidable rival, excelling in both individual military disciplines and practical command experience. He urged Ning Meng to cease her boasting and dedicate herself to rigorous preparation. When Ning Meng playfully asked who he wished to see win between her and Chen Haozhe, Qin Guan sidestepped the question, dismissing her with a remark about needing to focus on his own studies.
Before leaving, Ning Meng admired a small potted flower by the windowsill, noting how vibrantly Qin Guan had nurtured it. When he suggested she take it back, Ning Meng declined, offering the excuse that she needed to channel all her energy into preparing for the assault team leader selection. She promised to retrieve the flower after she had defeated Chen Haozhe.
As Ning Meng exited, she secretly glanced back to see Qin Guan immediately move to water the flower, a sight that brought a wide, contented smile to her face. In the dormitory, several female soldiers were discussing Ning Meng's victory over Yang Shu, deeming it a deserved outcome. They referred to Yang Shu as "lone wolf," characterizing her as aloof and unapproachable, and speculating that a win would only have amplified her arrogance.
Yang Shu, overhearing their comments, confronted them about the nickname. One soldier explained that it stemmed from Yang Shu's constant solitude and her refusal to engage with anyone. Yang Shu acknowledged the truth of their observations. She confessed that her life of continuous missions had accustomed her to a solitary existence, making her forget how to interact with others and that she had habitually applied a "battlefield mindset" to her personal relationships.
