Love in Flames of War Episode 3 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Jin Cheng harbored suspicions about Xiao Haishan's loyalty and summoned Kang Jingxiong for a discussion. Kang Jingxiong, still deeply resentful over his son's death, which he attributed to Xiao Haishan, played a strategic role. Jin Cheng admired Kang Jingxiong's straightforwardness, emphasizing that a leader in his position could not afford disloyalty. Kang Jingxiong unequivocally pledged his allegiance to Jin Cheng. Jin Cheng posed a hypothetical question to Kang Jingxiong: "If Haishan betrays me, what should I do?"
Kang Jingxiong responded that he couldn't give an objective answer. " Professionally, I think he is a loyal man. . . But on a personal level. . . my son is dead, as you already know. I will never ever forgive him. So I cannot give you an objective comment about him." Jin Cheng then revealed his intention: "If Haishan truly betrays me, I want you to deal with him on my behalf."
Kang Jingxiong affirmed his position, stating that if Jin Cheng trusted Xiao Haishan, they would be brothers, but if Jin Cheng wished for his removal, Xiao Haishan would be his son's murderer. Meanwhile, Xiao Beichen confronted Lin Hangjing with two large dogs, demanding an apology and submission to settle their past disputes. Lin Hangjing defiantly refused, asserting that she was not in the wrong and was thriving without him.
Later, during an exam, a student deliberately slipped a note to Lin Hangjing, leading to her being unjustly accused of cheating by the teacher. Despite her protests, her classmates denied witnessing anything, and the teacher disqualified her, ordering her to clean the corridor. Heartbroken and drenched in rain, Lin Hangjing returned to the Xiao Family residence. Xiao Beichen's aide, Xiao Rong, reported that the closure of Pioneer News was not Xiao Beichen's direct action.
It was a result of gossip that reached Mrs. Zheng through a chain of servants, eventually leading to her husband, Mr. Zheng, a "bootlicker," who then acted to seal the agency after confirming it had published an article criticizing warlords. Xiao Beichen, annoyed by Xiao Rong's blabbing, instructed him to remove the seals in a week. He soon learned that Lin Hangjing had developed a high fever.
Madam Qi was busy attending to her and asked Xiao Beichen to fetch a fever pill from her room. He feigned ignorance of its location, prompting Madam Qi to retrieve it herself. Seizing the moment, Xiao Beichen entered Lin Hangjing's room and gently placed his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. Lin Hangjing, opening her eyes, quickly pulled away.
Xiao Beichen softly renewed his demand for an apology, promising to protect her from future bullying if she would only apologize to him privately. Lin Hangjing, however, remained unyielding. Jin Cheng extended an invitation to Xiao Haishan for a dinner party at his residence two days later, explicitly stating he did not hold him accountable for Shen Changhe's death.
Adjutant Guo expressed concern, advising against attending or at least bringing more security, but Xiao Haishan insisted on going alone with only Guo and keeping the matter secret from his household. Separately, Lin Hangjing encountered two hooligans on her way home. A kind young man, Mu Zizheng, who was selling kites, intervened. He cited Commander Xiao's strict laws against public harassment, particularly for military personnel or their families, warning of severe flogging.
The thugs, recognizing Mu Zizheng's knowledge and their own military boots, quickly fled, threatening him. Lin Hangjing offered to pay for his kites, which had been scattered in the skirmish, but he politely declined and hailed a pulled rickshaw for her. He advised her to have her parents pick her up in the future, as the route was unsafe. His selfless act and warm smile left a deep impression on Lin Hangjing.
Madam Qi grew frantic when Lin Hangjing was late returning home. Upon her arrival, Lin Hangjing recounted her encounter with the thugs. Overhearing this, Xiao Beichen, realizing they were his men, quickly called them to cease their activities. Xiao Haishan, entering with a stick, furiously beat Xiao Beichen, calling him an "animal" for bullying his own sister. Madam Qi intervened, invoking Beichen's mother's name, which caused Xiao Haishan to stop.
Xiao Haishan declared his intention to send Xiao Beichen to a military school in Xinping, hoping a strict instructor would discipline him. Xiao Beichen protested, accusing his father of becoming a ruthless, deceitful man and refusing to follow in his footsteps. Xiao Haishan, however, insisted the decision was final, acknowledging his guilt towards Beichen's mother for his indulgence but emphasizing the need for his son to be disciplined.
He then informed Madam Qi he would be visiting the Warlord's Residence the following morning, fabricating a story about the ongoing conflict between the President and the Premier to allay her fears, and reassuring her of Beixin City's safety. Later, as Lin Hangjing and Jin Xiang happily cut sparrow window paper-cuts, celebrating Xiao Beichen's impending departure to military school, Xiao Beichen burst in.
He tried to drag Lin Hangjing to speak with Xiao Haishan, pleading with her to clarify that he hadn't ordered her harassment and to dissuade his father from sending him to military school. Lin Hangjing firmly refused, stating that the entire incident was his fault and he deserved to be disciplined. She told him to leave if he had any respect. When Xiao Beichen persisted, pulling her, he accidentally knocked over a cup.
Lin Hangjing became extremely agitated, and Jin Xiang tearfully revealed that the cup was the only keepsake left by Lin Hangjing's deceased mother, criticizing Xiao Beichen for breaking something so precious. Jin Xiang then escorted Xiao Beichen out. Alone, Xiao Beichen remembered Jin Xiang's words about the maternal bond and his own mother, holding her opera costume and quietly expressing how much he missed her.
The next day, Xiao Haishan arrived at Jin Cheng's heavily guarded residence, a sight that immediately raised Adjutant Guo's suspicions. After polite greetings, Jin Cheng came downstairs with his daughter, Jin Ruoke, before leading Xiao Haishan to his study. Jin Cheng got straight to the point, mentioning Shen Changhe's assassination at Ziyun Hotel and revealing that Shen Changhe was on a secret mission for him to retrieve a list of revolutionaries who had infiltrated the central government.
Jin Cheng detailed how the murderer seemed to know Shen Changhe's every move, operating within Xiao Haishan's jurisdiction without leaving a trace, implying the culprit had significant connections. Xiao Haishan's adjutant stated he was the only guard, highlighting his trust. Xiao Haishan defended himself, pointing out it would be foolish to commit such a crime in his own territory, leaving obvious clues, and reiterated his lack of personal animosity towards Shen Changhe.
Jin Cheng acknowledged his understanding but emphasized that in his position, he could not risk disloyalty. In a calculated move, Xiao Haishan produced a resignation letter, explaining his gratitude to Jin Cheng for his past patronage but claiming to feel "age has caught up to me." He assured Jin Cheng that his 30,000 Ying Army soldiers would remain loyal to Jin Cheng after his departure.
Jin Cheng, after a moment of surprise, declined the resignation, rescinding his earlier harsh words and emphasizing Xiao Haishan's invaluable role as a "talented man." He dismissed Xiao Haishan's suggestions of other capable commanders, reminding everyone that they were all "brothers in arms" who had fought together and were not yet old enough for retirement, forbidding any "dereliction of duty."
Kang Jingxiong later observed that the heavy guard had been withdrawn, concluding that Jin Cheng's "purposive dinner" was merely a "power play" to test Xiao Haishan's loyalty and remind everyone present to stay vigilant, effectively "two birds, one stone." Xiao Beichen, accompanied by Xiao Rong, waited for over an hour outside Pioneer News Agency. When Lin Hangjing emerged, Editor Lu handed her an envelope containing her monthly remuneration and a list of addresses.
Xiao Beichen instructed Xiao Rong to follow her. Lin Hangjing went to an impoverished area filled with refugees and war orphans. Introducing herself as an editor, she learned from the caretaker that the news agency's recent troubles had temporarily affected the children's shelter. Lin Hangjing joyfully announced that the donated funds were unfrozen and a home would soon be found for the children.
She then gave all her freshly received manuscript fees to the caretaker, asking her to buy new clothes and better food for the war orphans who had lost their parents. She then distributed maltose candies to the delighted children. Xiao Beichen observed from a distance, choosing not to interrupt. As she left, he approached, feigning a chance encounter, and offered her a ride home. Lin Hangjing, however, refused his offer once again, preferring to walk.
Later that night, unable to sleep, Xiao Beichen wandered into Lin Hangjing's courtyard. He saw her holding the shattered cup, lost in thought, and instinctively reached out to catch a falling flower petal. Upon seeing Xiao Beichen, Lin Hangjing's momentary smile vanished, and she promptly retreated to her room, leaving him alone in the courtyard. The following day, Xiao Beichen unexpectedly gathered his friends, Xu Zizhen and Mo Weiyi, to discuss building an orphanage.
His friends were surprised by his sudden humanitarian endeavor and asked who influenced him. Xiao Beichen, without naming Lin Hangjing, spoke of the plight of the homeless children and sought their financial assistance. However, his friends, despite their outward lavishness, claimed to have no private funds, constantly deflecting responsibility and jokingly comparing their empty pockets to his face.
They advised him that their collective contributions wouldn't suffice to build even one orphanage and suggested he ask his father, Xiao Haishan, who could easily fund ten. Xiao Beichen then recalled Lin Hangjing's stinging words, realizing the harsh truth that without his family's prestige, he truly was "nothing."
