Love in Flames of War Episode 31 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Xiao Shuyi relentlessly pursued Shen Yanqing, who was clearly irritated by her persistence. He reiterated that he had always seen her only as a sister, stating, "We really don't fit." Shuyi, however, was desperate, pressing him, "Where am I not good enough?" Shen Yanqing clarified that it wasn't about her being "good enough" but that he had always treated her as a sister.
Shuyi became emotional, accusing him of using a cliché rejection and asking if he didn't like her at all. Shen Yanqing could only offer a sorrowful "Sorry." In a final act, Shuyi embraced him and kissed him, crying out, "I like you so much. Would it kill you to like me a little?" After she left, Shen Yanqing silently apologized to her, knowing he could only wish her to find a lover truly suited for her.
Back home, Xiao Shuyi spent the entire night crying, clutching her wedding dress and suit. Meanwhile, Xiao Beichen went to Lin Hangjing's room to deliver something. Seeing him, Lin Hangjing initially tried to avoid him. Xiao Beichen urged her to stay, assuring her he wouldn't enter, and placed a pair of tiger-head shoes, personally sewn by Madam Qi, on the table.
Lin Hangjing tried to reveal the truth about the baby, but Xiao Beichen cut her off, stating, "You don't have to say anything." He assured her, "I won't hurt you, not even that child. I accept him." In recent days, many students had been organizing protests and demonstrations at Japanese company strongholds to show solidarity with Changsha, where Japanese sailors had killed citizens.
Mo Weiyi expressed concern to Xiao Beichen about the widespread, organized nature of these protests and the potential repercussions from Warlord Jin, who favored foreign businesses. However, Xiao Beichen firmly believed that as the Japanese had openly committed murder against their people, there was no reason to stop the students from petitioning. He even expressed admiration for the leaders of these movements, praising their bravery in defending national sovereignty and territory.
Mo Weiyi informed him that while the leaders weren't definitively identified, they were suspected to be linked to the Communist Party. While Lin Hangjing was reading, she suddenly experienced a severe stomach ache. Jin Xiang, noticing her distress, quickly called for help and Xiao Beichen rushed her to the hospital. Despite efforts, the child could not be saved. Madam Qi was devastated, her legs giving way, while Xiao Beichen's expression was a complex mix of emotions, perhaps even relief.
When Lin Hangjing awoke, pale and weak, her first question was, "Where is my baby?" She claimed to have heard him cry and desperately tried to pull out her IV to search for him. Xiao Beichen held her back, tearfully telling her, "Your baby is gone." Lin Hangjing was utterly heartbroken, weeping uncontrollably as her world turned to ashes.
Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun interrogated Dr. Sun, Lin Hangjing's attending physician, who provided a detailed account of his actions that day, from administering medication to waiting out a heavy rain before leaving the Xiao Residence. Investigations by the hospital and Xu Zijun confirmed that all medications were sealed, opened in front of Lin Hangjing and Jin Xiang, and no suspicious items were found in Dr. Sun's personal effects, nor had he been in contact with questionable individuals.
Mo Weiyi also stated that Dr. Sun, with his large family living in Beixin, had no apparent motive to lie. Xiao Beichen, who remained by Lin Hangjing's side day and night, vowed to find the culprit, instructing Mo Weiyi to "search the whole Beixin" if necessary. Madam Qi, empathizing with Lin Hangjing's grief, comforted her by saying, "The baby destined with his parents will come back again for his mom. So you have to survive this time anyway."
Lin Hangjing questioned if it was truly possible, and Madam Qi reassured her that her child would return to her. Mo Weiyi continued his investigation into the miscarriage. Despite the medication bottles being sealed glass, he and Xu Zijun couldn't fathom how aborticide was introduced until they discovered a tiny, additional pinhole next to the needle mark on an empty bottle. This discovery led them to question everyone in the Xiao Residence about their whereabouts during the critical half-hour timeframe.
Most household staff provided solid alibis, corroborated by others. However, Xiu, when interrogated, showed signs of fear after the needle-hole discovery. In a private conversation, Zheng Fengqi reassured her that her story was "without flaw" but then reminded Xiu of the leverage she held: Xiu's younger sister's contract of indenture. Zheng Fengqi revealed that she had paid Xiu's father's gambling debts, and in return, the father mortgaged the sister to her.
Zheng Fengqi explicitly threatened to sell Xiu's sister to an "indecent place" if Xiu did not comply and keep silent, dangling the sister's contract as both a promise of return for obedience and a warning. Zheng Fengqi was revealed as the mastermind behind the poisoning. Xiao Shuyi, still dispirited after Shen Yanqing's rejection, showed little reaction when informed of his impending departure from Beixin. Shen Yanqing visited Xiao Beichen to bid farewell.
He offered condolences regarding the recent events in the household and urged Xiao Beichen to rest, acknowledging his exhaustion from military duties and the pain of losing a child. Xiao Beichen confessed his deep shame and sorrow for the baby, feeling burdened. Shen Yanqing advised him not to be overwhelmed, assuring him he and Lin Hangjing would have another child in the future.
Xiao Beichen then introduced Shen Yanqing to Du Heng, the head of the Ying Army Independent Regiment and his former mentor, before Shen Yanqing departed. Meanwhile, Lin Hangjing sat forlornly in the courtyard under the moon, consumed by self-blame for failing to protect her child. She noticed Xiu in a corner burning paper money and muttering about not having hidden the truth from her.
Lin Hangjing confronted Xiu, who, fearing for her sister, falsely claimed that Xiao Beichen had ordered Dr. Sun to administer aborticide, which she had overheard. Xiu tearfully explained she dared not tell anyone and could only secretly burn paper money for the "poor little master," advising Lin Hangjing to "turn a blind eye to it" as she couldn't contend with Xiao Beichen. This revelation shattered Lin Hangjing, bringing back Xiao Beichen's earlier promise to accept the child.
The pain, coupled with a flashback of Xiao Beichen's sweet marriage vows, solidified her decision to leave Beixin. With a broken heart, she removed her diamond ring and penned a letter to Madam Qi, expressing gratitude for her care. For Xiao Beichen, she wrote that they were never meant to meet in this life and that she wished for them to part ways forever.
Before leaving, she told Jin Xiang, "No matter where I am in the future, you should be happy," to which Jin Xiang vowed to follow her anywhere. Lin Hangjing, however, gently told her to be happy and leave her alone. While Xiao Beichen was occupied with military affairs at the East Camp, he received the alarming news of Lin Hangjing's disappearance.
A soldier reported that she was nowhere to be found in the mansion, and even Jin Xiang was unaware of her whereabouts. However, they had a lead: a driver from Xinxing Motor had picked up a woman at the back door of the Xiao Residence and dropped her off at Jiangcang Inn on Lindong Road, near the wharf. Zheng Fengqi, who had arranged the disappearance, expressed grim satisfaction, saying, "Lin Hangjing. Let's be good sisters in next life."
Soon after, a massive fire erupted at the Jiangcang Inn. Xiao Beichen rushed to the scene, but the inn was already engulfed in flames. Despite the danger, he desperately cried out Lin Hangjing's name, attempting to charge into the inferno, but Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun held him back, explaining that Mrs. Xiao had not been found. After the fire was finally extinguished by heavy rain, several charred bodies were recovered.
One of the bodies clutched a pair of earrings—the very pair Xiao Beichen had given to Lin Hangjing. Finding these earrings among the remains, Xiao Beichen collapsed to his knees, weeping uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the profound loss of his beloved. After the devastating fire, Xiao Beichen remained in a coma for days. While he was unconscious, Mo Weiyi informed the other family uncles about the ongoing military conflict, stressing that Wei Zhenliang's forces had breached Jinyang's first line of defense.
Mo Weiyi advised against burdening Xiao Beichen with military matters during his deep grief over losing both his wife and child, ensuring that two pioneer regiments were already deployed to defend the second line. Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun were tasked with staying by Xiao Beichen's side during this difficult time, while the uncles would manage the rest of the military affairs.
When Xiao Beichen finally awoke, he was a shadow of his former self, his mind consumed by Lin Hangjing. His first words were to ask for her. Xiao Shuyi, still resentful, angrily declared that Lin Hangjing was ungrateful and that he shouldn't grieve for an "unfaithful person" and an "unidentified child." Xiao Beichen, enraged, yelled at her to shut up.
Unable to bear Xiao Shuyi's accusations, Jin Xiang stepped forward to reveal the shocking truth: the child Lin Hangjing was carrying belonged to Xiao Beichen. She explained that after Lin Hangjing's father passed away, Lin Hangjing observed mourning in Tingxiang Pavilion. However, one night when Xiao Beichen was heavily intoxicated, Lin Hangjing, worried about him, went to his room. The next morning, Jin Xiang had instructed Mammy Liu to prepare breakfast for both of them.
Mammy Liu corroborated Jin Xiang's account. As further proof, Jin Xiang presented a piece of paper on which Lin Hangjing had meticulously written numerous names for their unborn child, all bearing the Xiao surname. Staring at the names, Xiao Beichen was consumed by overwhelming remorse. He then found Lin Hangjing's farewell letter to Madam Qi, which conveyed her gratitude for Madam Qi's maternal care throughout her life in the Xiao Residence.
In a poignant passage addressed to Xiao Beichen, Lin Hangjing wrote that they were never meant to meet in this life and that she wished for them to go their separate ways, never to see each other again.
