Fall in Love Episode 21 Recap
> Fall in Love Recap
Gu Yueshuang, after filming for over twenty hours, attended her wrap party with visibly red eyes. As others dispersed, she massaged her aching arms. After her assistant left, the banquet hall plunged into darkness, leaving Gu Yueshuang puzzled. Suddenly, brilliant fireworks flashed across a screen, and Su Hongchen emerged from the light. He spoke of capturing the ephemeral beauty of fireworks on film, making it last forever.
Gu Yueshuang found his approach "weird," yet she was captivated by the scene and accepted his gift. He then expressed his desire to be her "camera" and record her beauty for life, leading her to acknowledge the special nature of his gesture. Meanwhile, Pei Shaojun discovered guns from his family's Machinery Bureau in an unexpected place, learning about his father's clandestine gun-running.
Xu Guangyao explained that the smugglers, from the Tianjin Machinery Bureau, carried Cantonese bank notes to frame the Revolutionary Army if caught, thus protecting the Military Governor's Office. Xu Guangyao noted that this scenario was eerily similar to the celebration banquet incident.
He explained that if the assassin at the banquet had been identified as one of Commander Tan Xuanlin's men, Pei Shaojun's father would have targeted Tan Xuanlin and neglected Beijing's power struggles, allowing Pei Xun to seize real power. Conversely, if the assassin had been linked to the Revolutionary Army, Pei Shaojun's father would have mobilized troops for a decisive battle, easing the burden on Pei Shaojun's family. Both outcomes would have benefited Pei Xun.
Pei Shaojun, still unwilling to believe his father capable of such actions, decided to return to Beijing to investigate. Xu Guangyao urged him to keep the information strictly between them. Tan Xuanlin was furious upon learning that his sister, Tan Sangyu, had sung at the Paramount and openly confessed her feelings for Pei Shaojun. She brazenly asked Tan Xuanlin to send her to Beijing, hoping to get closer to Pei Shaojun.
Tan Xuanlin, incensed, scoffed at her suggestion, knowing her true intentions. He reprimanded her for her lack of decorum, pointing out that as a commander's sister, she should know better. He initially threatened to send her back to Jiangcheng under strict supervision but ultimately ordered Tan Si to send her back to school and prevent her from leaving, only allowing her to go home during holidays. Tan Sangyu, despite her protests, reluctantly accepted, feigning affection for her brother.
The following day, news of Tan Xuanlin and Mu Wanqing, featuring their photos, dominated the headlines of "The Spark" newspaper. This news reached Xu Bojun, while Xu Guangyao, initially disbelieving, dismissed it as unreliable gossip. However, Xu Bojun remained suspicious, believing there was "no smoke without fire" given Tan Xuanlin's past actions for the Mu family. Seizing the moment, Tan Xuanlin called a press conference, where he publicly announced his intention to pursue Mu Wanqing.
He declared that even with her upcoming engagement to Xu Guangyao, he retained the right to pursue her before their official engagement ceremony. He boldly stated he would try to win her heart within eight days, and if successful, Xu Guangyao would have to accept it. Upon hearing this news, Gu Yueshuang sought out Mu Wanqing.
She confessed her bewilderment, stating that in all her years by Tan Xuanlin's side, he had always been consumed by military affairs and never embroiled in such a public romantic scandal. She questioned what benefit a calculating man like him could gain by openly pursuing Xu Guangyao's fiancée, given his current position.
Mu Wanqing, understanding Gu Yueshuang's unspoken feelings for Tan Xuanlin, subtly reminded her that she, as his family and savior, should know him better than to think his actions were arbitrary or that he could be used as a mere "excuse." Mu Wanqing affirmed that sometimes "people do strange things for love" and confirmed Tan Xuanlin's willingness to do anything for her, adding that she would reciprocate the same.
Having accepted the truth after seeing the film, Xu Guangyao later met Tan Xuanlin, accusing him of treachery. Tan Xuanlin calmly asserted that Mu Wanqing's heart belonged to him, not Xu Guangyao. To prove his point, Tan Xuanlin revealed an amulet that Mu Wanqing wore, explaining she had obtained two from Fayuan Temple. Xu Guangyao, seething, demanded to know why Tan Xuanlin believed he could win, given his own long-standing relationship and sacrifices for Mu Wanqing.
Tan Xuanlin declared his victory stemmed from his profound understanding of Mu Wanqing's decade of suffering and her difficult position within her own family. He recalled how he was willing to confront those who had wronged her, unlike Xu Guangyao who merely sought to make her his private secretary after she was almost violated by Cui Jie due to Mu Wanting's schemes. Tan Xuanlin adamantly stated that Mu Wanqing would only ever be his woman.
Xu Guangyao countered, citing his arranged marriage and doubting Mu Zhiyuan would accept Tan Xuanlin as a son-in-law based on a mere amulet. He insisted Mu Wanqing would eventually love him if he treated her well. Tan Xuanlin retorted that Xu Guangyao could only ever be a brother to Mu Wanqing because the Xu family owed her a brother. He then exposed the truth: Mu Yuanhang's death coincided with Xu Bojun's bombing.
Tan Xuanlin, after stating that seeing is believing, showed Xu Guangyao a film, convincing him of the reality and leading Xu Guangyao to accept defeat. Mu Zhiyuan was astonished to learn of Mu Wanqing's preference for Tan Xuanlin, having always assumed she loved Xu Guangyao. He found himself in a difficult position, worried about the potential damage to the Military Governor's family's reputation and his own.
He warned Mu Wanqing against letting emotions cloud her judgment, stressing that choosing Tan Xuanlin would harm both of them, as Tan Xuanlin, a newly appointed commander, would incur the powerful Military Governor Xu's wrath, jeopardizing their family's business which relied on the Xu family's help. Mu Wanqing, however, steadfastly defended Tan Xuanlin, explaining that his public declaration was an act of protection for her and their family, and that she believed he would not lose.
Mu Zhiyuan, recognizing Tan Xuanlin as a noble man, could only accept his daughter's resolve. Xu Guangyao met Tan Xuanlin and asked if he truly loved Mu Wanqing. Tan Xuanlin responded with heartfelt words, admitting his deepest fear was not death, but the thought of Mu Wanqing's sadness or his inability to give her happiness. Xu Guangyao urged him to remember his words and treat her well.
Tan Xuanlin promised to shield her from all darkness and find light for her, wanting only her happiness, even if it meant sacrificing his own. Xu Guangyao, deeply moved, recognized Mu Wanqing's fortune in having Tan Xuanlin, and expressed hope that Tan Xuanlin would indeed be her good fortune, vowing consequences if he failed. Xu Guangyao then sought out Mu Wanqing for a final farewell. He apologized for his father's actions, emphasizing that she was not to blame.
Mu Wanqing, calling him "Guangyao brother," expressed her gratitude for his kindness and for treating her like a beloved sister. Xu Guangyao, seeing her love for Tan Xuanlin, offered his blessings before asking for a final embrace and departing for Yuecheng.
