Love in Flames of War Episode 28 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
The news of Lin Hangjing's father, Lin Tangsheng, passing away spread through Beixin City, with people discussing the funeral being held at the Xiao Residence. Mu Zizheng overheard this. Zheng Fengqi found Mu Zizheng, who had unsuccessfully tried to see Lin Hangjing, and confirmed the news, stating that Lin Hangjing was overwhelmed with grief.
She then offered her assistance, telling him that she was the only one in the Xiao Family who could help him see Lin Hangjing, and asked if he would like to be friends with her. For days after her father's death, Lin Hangjing confined herself to her room in Tingxiang Pavilion, refusing to eat or drink. Xiao Beichen, deeply concerned, personally tried to coax her to eat something sweet, believing it would improve her mood.
He gently reminded her that her father had concealed his illness because he wished for her happiness and freedom from worry. He emphasized that Lin Tangsheng's greatest wish was for her to live a joyful life. Overcome with emotion, Lin Hangjing finally broke down in his arms, sobbing that she no longer had a father, and Xiao Beichen held her, telling her to cry until she felt better. A few days later, Lin Hangjing agreed to go to school.
Xiao Beichen, still worried, arranged for guards to accompany her, a decision Madam Qi supported, assuring Lin Hangjing that if she wanted Xiao Beichen to feel at ease, she should accept their presence. At school, Lin Hangjing received a package containing her father's manuscript. The sender, a nurse named Ms. Feng from Nanyuan Sanatorium who claimed to have cared for Lin Tangsheng, quickly introduced herself at the gate.
Before Lin Hangjing could question her about her father's presence at the sanatorium, Ms. Feng hastily excused herself, arranging to meet Lin Hangjing at Lan Bao Cafe at four that afternoon. She sternly warned Lin Hangjing not to mention their meeting to Xiao Beichen, fearing for her life.
At Lan Bao Cafe, Ms. Feng revealed a shocking truth: Lin Tangsheng had been released over half a year ago but was secretly detained by Xiao Beichen at Nanyuan Sanatorium, preventing father and daughter from reuniting. Ms. Feng explained that she overheard a military officer named Mo Weiyi question Xiao Beichen about why he didn't bring Lin Tangsheng back to Beixin City, to which Xiao Beichen responded, "Only in this way can I keep Hangjing with me."
To support her claims, Ms. Feng presented remittance receipts bearing Xiao Beichen's signature, confirming his involvement in the sanatorium's confidential arrangements. Disturbed but still skeptical, Lin Hangjing made phone calls to Lin Tangsheng's former cellmates, Zhang Pulin and Liu Renyu. Both men independently confirmed that Lin Tangsheng had indeed been released months prior, with Liu Renyu explicitly stating Warlord Cheng released him due to his connection to Xiao Beichen.
The irrefutable evidence shattered Lin Hangjing, recalling Xiao Beichen's solemn vow to never deceive her again, a promise that now seemed tragically hollow. Xiao Beichen found Lin Hangjing distraught and drenched in the rain. He carried her back to her room, dried her hair, and, seeing her lifeless gaze, understood she was deeply missing her father.
He tried to comfort her, revealing that Warlord Cheng had cleared Lin Tangsheng's name, and this vindication would soon be made public, assuring her that her father would find peace in heaven. Lin Hangjing expressed her sorrow that her father hadn't known this good news before he died. Xiao Beichen gently put her to bed, urging her to rest, before leaving the room.
As soon as he was gone, Lin Hangjing called Zheng Fengqi, asking for a favor: she wanted to leave Beixin City. Zheng Fengqi was delighted by Lin Hangjing's decision to leave, confirming that she had orchestrated the entire revelation through Ms. Feng, whom she then instructed to disappear. Subsequently, Zheng Fengqi contacted Sato, asking him to invite Xiao Beichen to a Peking Opera performance in a couple of days, specifically requesting the play "Farewell My Concubine."
Sato questioned her motive, but Zheng Fengqi dismissed his concerns, reminding him of their mutual agreement to assist each other as friends. Later, Zheng Fengqi informed Xiao Shuyi that Lin Hangjing was planning to elope with Mu Zizheng. Xiao Shuyi reacted with fury, criticizing Lin Hangjing's ingratitude and intending to inform Xiao Beichen.
However, Zheng Fengqi persuaded her otherwise, explaining that love is an obsession and that letting Lin Hangjing go would actually be a liberation for Xiao Beichen, asking her to help Lin Hangjing for Xiao Beichen's sake. Soon after, Zheng Fengqi sent a letter to Lin Hangjing. Before she could read it, Xiao Beichen unexpectedly returned, prompting Lin Hangjing to quickly hide the letter.
To deflect, she cheerfully suggested planting a peach tree in the yard, explaining that her father had planted one for her when she was a child, and doing so now would make her feel as if he were still with her. Xiao Beichen readily agreed, even offering to have Xiao Rong plant it immediately, seeing it as a symbol of sweet love and a good omen for their marriage.
He then expressed his regret that they had never had a proper proposal or a formal marriage certificate. He wished for them to perform a true marriage ceremony, promising a lifetime of mutual love and growing old together without any mere contract. Lin Hangjing agreed but insisted they wait until her mourning period for her father was over.
She also requested to visit her father's grave the following day, to which Xiao Beichen readily consented, arranging for Madam Qi to accompany her. That night, Xiao Beichen was in high spirits, celebrating with his friends Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun, who noted his unusual happiness. Xiao Rong eventually escorted a completely inebriated Xiao Beichen back to the Xiao Family mansion and left him in his room. Lin Hangjing then entered the room to bid him a silent farewell.
Gazing at him, she expressed her heartbreak, wishing she could stay by his side forever, but lamented his deception about her father, especially after he had sworn never to lie to her again and knowing how long she had waited for her father.
Though she loved him, she confessed she didn't know how to forgive him or continue living with him, concluding that if their meeting was a mistake, it was time to end it, hoping they would never meet again for the rest of their lives. As she turned to leave, a semi-conscious Xiao Beichen murmured her name, pleading with her not to abandon him.
Tearfully, Lin Hangjing kissed him goodbye, only for Xiao Beichen to muzzily open his eyes and pull her onto the bed. The following morning, Xiao Beichen awoke to an empty bed. He asked Xiao Rong if Lin Hangjing had come to his room, but Xiao Rong, unaware of her presence last night, informed him that she had gone to the cemetery with Madam Qi and Xiao Shuyi earlier that day.
Xiao Beichen then instructed Xiao Rong to prepare his car to go to Yamato Co., Ltd. Meanwhile, on their way to the cemetery, Madam Qi expressed her pleasant surprise at Xiao Shuyi's unexpected decision to join them. Their journey was interrupted when they witnessed a young girl being forcibly sold into a brothel.
As Madam Qi stepped out to intervene and uphold justice, Xiao Shuyi seized the opportunity to quietly instruct Lin Hangjing that the car Zheng Fengqi had arranged for her was waiting in a nearby alley. Lin Hangjing thanked her, but Xiao Shuyi clarified that she was doing this for Xiao Beichen's sake, advising Lin Hangjing to leave and never return.
Lin Hangjing quickly made her way to the car, only to be astonished to find Mu Zizheng in the driver's seat. Lin Hangjing was startled to see Mu Zizheng, telling him she hadn't known Zheng Fengqi involved him and urged him to leave, not wanting him to risk his safety for her. Mu Zizheng insisted he would only drive her safely to the South before leaving himself.
However, as they tried to exit Beixin City, they discovered that Xiao Beichen had already sealed all the checkpoints, making escape impossible. Mu Zizheng decided they would hide within Beixin City until the situation calmed down. Back at the Xiao Family mansion, Xiao Beichen furiously confronted Xiao Shuyi, demanding to know Lin Hangjing's whereabouts.
Xiao Shuyi initially feigned ignorance, but when Xiao Beichen brought in the people she had hired for the distraction at the cemetery, she had no choice but to confess. She admitted to letting Lin Hangjing go, arguing that Lin Hangjing's heart had already left, and she couldn't stand seeing Xiao Beichen so consumed by a woman who didn't care for him.
Despite Xiao Beichen's warnings, Xiao Shuyi defiantly stated she wouldn't tell him where Lin Hangjing was even if she knew. Under pressure from Madam Qi, Xiao Shuyi finally revealed that she only arranged a car for Lin Hangjing to leave, and that Lin Hangjing had departed with Mu Zizheng, leaving Xiao Beichen in a state of utter rage.
