Fall in Love Episode 8 Recap
> Fall in Love Recap
Good evening, everyone. As the host, Tan Xuanlin addressed the gathering, expressing gratitude for their presence. He humbly acknowledged his limited experience as Shanghai's Defense Commander, attributing his position to the favor of Military Governor Xu. He dismissed the public's perception of him as the "youngest lord of Shanghai," asserting his true purpose was to serve the people and ensure peace and prosperity for Shanghai's residents and businesses. He also stated his responsibility as commander was unquestionable.
Despite the tension, some attendees, Marshal Su and Marshal Pei, sarcastically remarked on Tan Xuanlin's past disruption at the Mu's mansion and his current position, noting that times had changed and that their presence aligned with Military Governor Xu's desire for Shanghai's stability, which would allow the Governor's Office to focus on southern threats. Tan Xuanlin then invited Supervisor Xu, Xu Guangyao, to speak.
Xu Guangyao commended Tan Xuanlin as the first commander to openly declare service to Shanghai's industrial and commercial sectors. He suggested that the command would be a resource for the business community, assuring Tan Xuanlin's full support. Xu Guangyao then revealed that they indeed had a problem requiring the Commander's assistance. Marshal Su, Su Hongchen, elaborated on his family's wharfs and warehouses facing a severe labor shortage due to ongoing conflicts.
He proposed that Tan Xuanlin's army, awaiting disbandment, could be employed as laborers, securing them a stable livelihood. Marshal Pei, Pei Shaojun, immediately seconded the proposal, offering to share the responsibility of arranging for the soldiers. While touched by their offer, Tan Xuanlin hesitated, stating his soldiers had served him for a decade and he wished for them to find better opportunities. Pei Shaojun sarcastically questioned if Tan Xuanlin expected all his soldiers to become commanders.
Xu Guangyao pressed Tan Xuanlin, asking if he intended to endlessly delay without offering a plan. Tan Xuanlin promised he would fulfill his commitments. Xu Guangyao then directly stated that Tan Xuanlin was the first Shanghai defense commander to maintain a private army. He, along with others, expressed deep concern over an army without official designation and solely loyal to Tan Xuanlin, fearing potential unrest from rogue soldiers. They demanded a clear deadline for the disbandment.
Tan Xuanlin retorted, suggesting their demand implied distrust, to which Xu Guangyao countered by asking whom Tan Xuanlin was guarding against by delaying the disbandment. Tan Xuanlin ultimately agreed to set a deadline, accusing Xu Guangyao of coercion, who coolly replied he had learned it from Tan Xuanlin himself. As Wanqing left the restroom, she inadvertently collided with a man. She immediately sensed a hidden firearm on him and, quick-witted, feigned drunkenness to avert immediate danger.
Meanwhile, on stage, Tan Xuanlin found himself in a difficult position due to the ongoing demands. Suddenly, Wanqing rushed forward, frantically informing Tan Si about the suspicious man. However, Tan Si searched the man and only found a wine glass, no weapon. Wanqing was utterly bewildered, certain she had felt the gun on the man, yet now it was gone. The commotion caused by Wanqing's alarm drew everyone's attention, creating a brief disturbance.
An unidentified figure attempted to soothe the situation, remarking that the Commander needn't feel awkward just for a deadline. Seizing the moment, Tan Xuanlin reaffirmed his commitment, publicly promising that his soldiers would be resettled after the Spring Festival, which was twenty days away. He appealed to Supervisor Xu, asking for understanding, as these were men who had served him loyally for a decade and deserved a good holiday season.
Xu Guangyao acknowledged the promise, reminding Tan Xuanlin to remember his word. With a seemingly settled agreement, the tension in the hall eased, though unbeknownst to them, a greater threat was rapidly approaching. Wanqing remained troubled by her earlier encounter. As she pondered, her attention was drawn to another unfamiliar man. A sudden flash of insight, a fragment of memory, struck her, and she realized the impending danger. She rushed forward and shoved the man.
Simultaneously, on stage, Tan Xuanlin perceived the abnormal situation. The moment the man drew his gun, Tan Xuanlin instinctively pushed Xu Guangyao to the ground. Unfortunately, Wanqing was caught in the ensuing chaos and taken hostage by the armed man. Outside the banquet hall, a sniper, alerted to the situation, pulled the trigger. A bullet pierced through the window, speeding towards the stage.
Tan Xuanlin, reacting swiftly, once again pushed Xu Guangyao aside, as the bullet whistled past their heads, exploding in a burst of smoke behind them. As the hall erupted in chaos, demands were made for the assailant to drop his weapon. The man, holding Wanqing captive, threatened to kill her if anyone moved. Someone from the armed forces declared him surrounded, offering him a chance to live if he surrendered. Tan Xuanlin urged everyone to find cover.
Xu Guangyao identified the sniper's location on the third floor and declared his intent to neutralize the threat, instructing others to stay put. Tan Xuanlin tried to negotiate with the hostage-taker, offering him safe passage in exchange for Wanqing. The assailant, however, refused to talk, demanding that Tan Xuanlin's men clear the way. Tan Xuanlin then ordered Tan Si to follow him, indicating they would pursue. While the hostage situation unfolded, Su Hongchen and Pei Shaojun meticulously searched the area.
They quickly located the sniper's hiding spot on the third floor and, working in seamless coordination, neutralized him. Meanwhile, the assailant holding Wanqing moved to the rooftop, the fourth floor of the building. Xu Guangyao, defying the danger, pursued him. Tan Xuanlin, also in pursuit, identified a strategic position and began to scale the building, reaching a point directly behind the assailant. Xu Guangyao, seeing Tan Xuanlin's approach, understood the plan.
On the rooftop, the assailant warned anyone approaching to stop, threatening to kill Wanqing. He refused to negotiate with Tan Xuanlin, demanding that Xu Guangyao come up instead. Despite warnings from his aide about a possible trick, Xu Guangyao declared his intention to save Wanqing and continued his ascent. Once he reached the rooftop, Xu Guangyao confronted the assailant, offering to take Wanqing's place. He asked the assailant to put down his gun and even kick it towards him.
However, the assailant refused, maintaining his hold on Wanqing and re-threatening to shoot Xu Guangyao if he moved. Working together for the first time, Tan Xuanlin and Xu Guangyao successfully incapacitated the assailant, rescuing Wanqing from captivity. In the aftermath of the ordeal, a limping Wanqing playfully chided Pei Shaojun for leaving her behind despite her sprained ankle, reminding him she had come for him.
She then acknowledged that Pei Shaojun had saved her life once more, recalling their previous encounter at a student protest in Beijing where his spirited presence had left a lasting impression on her. Tan Xuanlin then joined them, teasing Wanqing about her flushed face, implying the physical exertion of the incident.
He playfully remarked if she was related to him, calling her "Commander Tan's sister," to which she quickly corrected him, asserting she was not his sister but defended "Xuanlin" (her brother). Wanqing further teased Tan Xuanlin about his seeming indifference after the danger had passed, prompting him to call out to Pei Shaojun to cease his pursuit of any remaining accomplices.
After the rescue, Xu Guangyao, despite having a minor arm injury, dismissed it as a mere scratch that would heal with a simple dressing. Xu Cheng, Xu Guangyao's aide, stepped forward to manage the situation, instructing Xu Guangyao to get his wound dressed. Mr. Mu, Wanqing's father, expressed his profound gratitude to Tan Xuanlin for saving his daughter. Tan Xuanlin, in turn, credited Wanqing for her timely discovery of the assassin, which prevented further casualties.
He then requested Mr. Mu's permission for Wanqing to testify during the interrogation, as she was the primary witness. Mr. Mu agreed, emphasizing the importance of protecting his daughter from undue fright during the process, a request Tan Xuanlin promised to honor. Mr. Mu then sent Yueshuang, presumably another family member, away for safety. Tan Xuanlin then asked Tan Si about Joseph, who was being held on the first floor.
Tan Si confirmed Joseph's location, and they headed to interrogate him. Wanqing then approached Tan Xuanlin, noting his serious wound and questioning why he hadn't spoken up sooner. Tan Xuanlin dismissively replied that he saw everyone was focused on Xu Guangyao and considered his own injury minor enough to handle himself. Despite his nonchalance, Wanqing insisted on tending to his wound, offering to fetch medical supplies from the hotel.
Tan Xuanlin initially teased her, suggesting she wouldn't dare look at his bare chest, which was necessary for treatment. However, when she confidently asserted her resolve, he hesitated, warning her that his chest was covered in old scars that might frighten her and suggested Tan Si handle it instead. Wanqing, undeterred, insisted she wasn't scared and firmly instructed him to sit still, preparing to treat his injury despite the anticipated pain.
As Wanqing began to dress Tan Xuanlin's wound, she noticed the multitude of old scars crisscrossing his chest, a stark testament to his past. She asked if those old wounds had hurt more than his current injury. Tan Xuanlin shrugged off the pain, prompting Wanqing to comment on how many scars he had and how he must always be at the forefront of battles, questioning if he feared death.
He responded that with his brothers-in-arms behind him, he could not retreat, and as their marshal, it was his duty to protect them. Wanqing mused that this leadership explained his army's unwavering loyalty. She then wondered who protected him if he always protected others. Tan Xuanlin asserted his luck, then pointed to a specific scar, explaining he got it at the age of fifteen.
He vividly described the sensation of being shot—an initial numbing impact followed by searing pain, even the smell of his own wound, like "roast meat." Wanqing asked how he endured such an ordeal, and he calmly replied he simply got used to the pain over time. During the treatment, Wanqing accidentally caused him pain, and he playfully accused her of trying to take his life. He then lightheartedly asked if she wanted him instead, urging her to be gentler.
Wanqing retorted that perhaps she shouldn't be too kind to him. After finishing, she advised him to take his medication and keep the wound dry. Tan Xuanlin thanked her, playfully calling her "doctor." An observer then remarked on the unique bond forming between them, noting how Wanqing had been a hostage for him, and he had been wounded for her, suggesting it was destiny. After the incident, Xu Guangyao, Su Hongchen, and Pei Shaojun sought to question the detained accomplices.
Xu Guangyao noted that the initial assassin had been killed by Tan Xuanlin before he could be questioned, but two others were still held by Tan Xuanlin. Upon arrival, Joseph, a business celebrity initially detained, vehemently denied any involvement, claiming his followers were new employees. Tan Xuanlin agreed to interrogate Joseph separately, while Xu Guangyao and Su Hongchen decided to question one of the attendants.
Xu Guangyao and his allies, citing concerns over command security and potential public criticism, insisted on being present during the interrogation to ensure transparency, implying a lack of trust in Tan Xuanlin. Tan Xuanlin, declaring himself open and aboveboard, readily agreed, saying it would be less trouble for him.
Xu Guangyao then revealed to Su Hongchen and Pei Shaojun his true motive for insisting on joint interrogation: fear that cunning Tan Xuanlin might secretly manipulate the situation to exonerate himself or, worse, frame their families. They decided to proceed cautiously. Meanwhile, Tan Xuanlin had Joseph released, apologizing for the misunderstanding and explaining that his detention was a mere formality given the target was Military Governor Xu's son. Joseph, though irritated by the "trick," was permitted to leave.
Wanqing, having observed this, confronted Tan Xuanlin, accusing him of staging a "play" for Xu Guangyao. Tan Xuanlin confirmed her suspicion, revealing that he staged it to test Xu Guangyao's character, especially since Wanqing was now Xu Guangyao's secretary. He cryptically added that if Xu Guangyao were revealed to be a hypocrite, he would be even more at ease, implying it would simplify her choice between them. Wanqing quickly deflected his romantic overtures, clarifying she was only discussing professional standing.
In the other interrogation room, the captured assassin brazenly claimed Tan Xuanlin had ordered the assassination, presenting what he said was proof of Tan Xuanlin's bribery. He further alleged that Tan Xuanlin had killed his accomplice to cover up the crime, forcing him to turn against his former boss. Su Hongchen immediately seized on this, declaring Tan Xuanlin's downfall.
However, when the assassin was brought before Tan Xuanlin, who merely smirked, Wanqing bravely spoke up, arguing that Tan Xuanlin wouldn't be so foolish as to plan an assassination at his own celebration. Su Hongchen dismissed her, suggesting the assassin, with his life in Tan Xuanlin's hands, had no reason to lie unless Tan Xuanlin was trying to silence him. Just as the accusations mounted, Xu Guangyao intervened.
He requested a Cantonese note from his aide, Xu Cheng, which he had found on the assassin. Xu Guangyao meticulously exposed the assassin's elaborate lie. He pointed out the note was issued that very year, contradicting the assassin's claim of just returning from the US after a business trip to Guangzhou years ago.
Xu Guangyao deduced that the assassin was an agent from the southern forces who had faked his identity and exchanged most of his Cantonese currency for local notes, keeping only a few for train fare and rickshaws upon his planned return to Guangzhou. Tan Xuanlin sarcastically praised Xu Guangyao's intelligence, acknowledging he wouldn't have been cleared without this evidence. As Xu Guangyao finished his explanation, the assassin suddenly foamed at the mouth and collapsed, dead.
Tan Xuanlin immediately pulled Wanqing behind him, shielding her from the gruesome sight. Su Hongchen lamented the lack of a living witness, but Xu Guangyao asserted the case was clear: the southern forces orchestrated the attack to sow discord between them and the military governor's offices. He vowed to find the true mastermind, reaffirming his belief in Tan Xuanlin's innocence and subtly rebuking Su Hongchen for his hasty accusations. Wanqing, noting Xu Guangyao's arm injury, urged him to rest.
Xu Cheng, Xu Guangyao's aide, then informed Mr. Mu that Wanqing's testimony was not yet complete, and she could not leave. Tan Xuanlin interjected, reassuring Mr. Mu that he would ensure Wanqing's safe return after her statement.
