Granting You a Dreamlike Life Episode 38 Recap
> Granting You a Dreamlike Life Recap
After Hong Zhengbao's death, Luo Fusheng steps up to lead the Hong family business, Meigomei, vowing to keep it strong. He plans a grand funeral for Hong Zhengbao at the Jiashe Spirit Altar, intending to honor him as a hero and invite prominent figures from Dongjiang. However, the Japanese, through Xu Xingcheng, seek to prevent this. Xu Xingcheng, acting on Japanese orders, instructs the police to issue a city-wide notice.
The notice falsely declares Hong Zhengbao a traitor who colluded with the Japanese and warns that anyone attempting to mourn will be dealt with by the police. Feiyan, representing the Japanese, emphasizes that direct Japanese intervention would appear threatening, so she relies on Chief Inspector Xu Xingcheng to manage the situation, urging him not to be soft-hearted and assuring him that they will be observing his actions. Xu Xingcheng acknowledges her instructions.
At Hong Zhengbao's funeral, Xu Xingcheng and a large police force block the entrance, declaring Hong Zhengbao a traitor and threatening to open fire on anyone who tries to enter. Hong Lan expresses her frustration to Luo Fusheng about the situation, but he remains firm, stating their priority is to honor Hong Zhengbao and that he won't let Xu Xingcheng continue his wrongdoing.
Lin Qikai and Lin Ruomeng (also known as Tianying) arrive, and Lin Qikai confronts Xu Xingcheng, urging him to show respect for the dead. Xu Xingcheng tells Ruomeng to leave for her safety, but she refuses, insisting she will not abandon Hong Zhengbao. Xu Xingcheng doubles down, reiterating the police's right to shoot anyone who attempts to mourn.
Ruomeng passionately defends Hong Zhengbao, revealing that he resisted Japanese attempts to use his wharf for opium smuggling and was killed because of it, proclaiming him a hero. Xu Xingcheng dismisses her words, demanding proof. Just then, Lin Daoshan arrives with a witness. Lin Daoshan then presents evidence—silver notes from Rihe Commercial Bank, which has Japanese military ties. Lin Daoshan explains that the Japanese tried to hire Xinglong Pavilion to assassinate Hong Zhengbao after he refused to cooperate.
The Xinglong Pavilion owner, despite his background, bravely fought the Japanese to protect Hong Zhengbao. Xu Xingcheng attempts to discredit the evidence, suggesting it could be proof of the Lin family's own dealings with the Japanese. Lin Daoshan firmly rejects this, stating that the Lin family has never and will never collaborate with the Japanese. Convinced by Lin Daoshan's words, the angry crowd begins to surge forward, demanding entry to pay their respects.
As Lin Daoshan leads them towards the altar, gunshots ring out from the shadows, and Lin Daoshan falls, struck by a bullet. Lin Qikai immediately rushes his wounded father to a waiting car, while his subordinate reports that the assassins, though escaping, were heard speaking Japanese, confirming Japanese involvement. At the hospital, doctors confirm Lin Daoshan's grave condition, stating they can do nothing more.
As he lies dying, Lin Daoshan speaks to his children, Lin Qikai and Ruomeng, expressing contentment for having them. He then formally passes leadership of the Lin family and Xinglong Pavilion to Lin Qikai, and asks him to care for Ruomeng. He turns to Luo Fusheng, deeply regretting his past impulsiveness that led to Luo Fusheng's father's death, acknowledging he owes Luo Fusheng a father.
Lin Daoshan reveals his secret ownership of Xinglong Pavilion and how he uncovered the Japanese plot against the Hong family. He urges Luo Fusheng and Lin Qikai to collaborate and support each other in sustaining the family businesses. He apologizes to Hong Lan for not being able to save Hong Zhengbao but only clear his name, and Hong Lan assures him she never blamed him.
He then encourages Luo Fusheng and Ruomeng to disregard their elders' past conflicts and stay together, knowing they truly love each other. Luo Fusheng vows to protect Ruomeng with his life. Lin Daoshan finally entrusts his "precious daughter," Ruomeng, to Luo Fusheng and, exhausted, asks everyone to leave so he can rest. He closes his eyes and passes away, clutching a photograph. Xu Xingcheng is horrified to learn that Feiyan was responsible for Lin Daoshan's death.
Feiyan coolly states that disobedient individuals cannot be allowed to live, further unsettling him. He asks if she intends to kill him too, to which she replies that his destiny is his own to control. Meanwhile, Ruomeng reflects on her father's death. She tells Luo Fusheng that she feels she has grown up overnight and reaffirms his importance in her life.
Luo Fusheng informs Ruomeng that he has emptied the Hong family wharf of all goods to deny the Japanese any economic advantage. Ruomeng then tells him that Lin Qikai is similarly shifting Lin family assets and reducing foreign trade. Motivated by her father's sacrifice and a newfound sense of purpose, Ruomeng secretly meets with Huang Xinghan and other members of the Taixing Club.
She declares her desire to join the club, explaining that her father's death made her realize the importance of living for others and contributing to her country. Huang Xinghan welcomes her and assigns her a critical first mission: to obtain the "Earthworm program" list, which is in Xu Xingcheng's possession. He emphasizes that Ruomeng is the only one who can gain Xu Xingcheng's trust for this task.
Xu Xingcheng, haunted by nightmares, expresses his mental exhaustion to his sister, Xu Xingyuan, who notices his increasing resemblance to their hated father and warns him against it. Xu Xingcheng vehemently denies this comparison. Later, he confronts Feiyan, stating his intention to terminate their cooperation due to the string of deaths among the elder families. Feiyan coldly dismisses his request, reminding him that he is too deeply involved to quit.
When her threats fail to sway him, she changes tactics, offering him Ruomeng as an incentive, promising to deliver Ruomeng to his side, believing that with time, Ruomeng will come to love him. After finishing a film shoot, Ruomeng finds her brother, Tianci, waiting outside. He appears disheveled and hesitant, feeling unworthy to be her brother now that she is the esteemed Miss Lin. Ruomeng reassures him that he will always be her brother, reminding him of his past kindness.
Tianci, overcome with emotion, confesses his past wrongdoings and admits he still struggles with his gambling addiction, refusing the money Ruomeng tries to give him, fearing he would just squander it. Ruomeng gently urges him to overcome his bad habits for her sake. Their emotional reunion is violently interrupted when a group of men in black suddenly abduct Ruomeng.
Tianci bravely tries to intervene, shouting for them to release her, but he is run over and killed by the abductors' car. Ruomeng is overwhelmed with grief but is quickly knocked unconscious by her captors. She awakens in Xu Xingcheng's house. Feigning partial amnesia, she asks where she is and why. She claims to only remember her plan to return to her hometown with her brother and asks for his whereabouts.
Xu Xingcheng gently informs her that Tianci died in the same incident. After a private moment of grief, Ruomeng continues her charade, pretending to be her former self, "Tianying," who has no recollection of being "Ruomeng." She convincingly acts as if she has no positive recollection of Luo Fusheng and doesn't remember Lin Qikai. Xu Xingyuan secretly informs Lin Qikai and Luo Fusheng that Ruomeng is at their house, brought back by her brother, Xu Xingcheng.
She claims Ruomeng has completely lost her memory, not recognizing Lin Qikai and holding a poor impression of Luo Fusheng, cautioning them that any attempt to forcibly remove her would be met with resistance. Despite their disbelief, Lin Qikai and Luo Fusheng rush to Xu Xingcheng's residence. There, they find Ruomeng being attended to by Xu Xingcheng, who is helping her with finger exercises for her supposed memory recovery. She thanks Xu Xingcheng, claiming he is the kindest to her.
Luo Fusheng and Lin Qikai confront Xu Xingcheng. Maintaining her charade, Ruomeng asserts she is "Tianying," not "Ruomeng," denies any recollection of Lin Qikai as her brother, and firmly states that she has chosen Xu Xingcheng and wishes for Luo Fusheng and Lin Qikai to leave his home. Xu Xingcheng, pleased by Ruomeng's apparent devotion, gloats and threatens to arrest them for trespassing.
Despite Luo Fusheng's inquiry about whether Ruomeng is being threatened, she reiterates her desire for them to leave. Disappointed and bewildered, Luo Fusheng and Lin Qikai depart. Outside, Huang Xinghan approaches Luo Fusheng, offering to reveal a secret about Ruomeng. Later, while out shopping with Xu Xingyuan, Ruomeng expresses annoyance at the constant surveillance. She suggests they visit a flower shop, where Xu Xingyuan innocently remarks that Ruomeng once worked there.
Feigning surprise and lack of memory, Ruomeng insists they enter, leaving the bodyguards outside. Inside, she pretends to have a stomachache and excuses herself to the restroom, seizing the opportunity to make her escape. Simultaneously, Huang Xinghan leads Luo Fusheng to meet Lao Xue, presumably to reveal Ruomeng's true intentions.
