Love in Flames of War Episode 34 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Xiao Shuyi visited Shen Yanqing at his apartment. Shen Yanqing remarked on how much she had changed from five years ago, to which she replied that time changes everything, and she had grown up, just as he had started a family. Xiao Shuyi had come to apologize on behalf of Xiao Beichen for his inappropriate behavior during their last encounter. Shen Yanqing still struggled to understand Xiao Beichen's strange actions that night.
To explain, Xiao Shuyi showed him a photograph, revealing it was Lin Hangjing, Xiao Beichen's wife, who had died in a fire five years ago and was the greatest love of his life. That was why he had reacted so intensely. Shen Yanqing was astonished by Lin Hangjing’s uncanny resemblance to Sheng Hanjun. Xiao Shuyi then asked Shen Yanqing to promise that, no matter what, he would never disappoint or deceive Xiao Beichen, who held him in high regard.
Shen Yanqing readily agreed. After Xiao Shuyi left, Shen Yanqing silently apologized to her in his thoughts. Shen Yanqing, operating under the codename "Migrant Bird," met with Yong Ge at a church. Migrant Bird stressed that their main objective in Beixin City was to prevent the Beixin Port from falling into Japanese hands by eliminating Japanese companies from the bidding.
He instructed Yong Ge, who led a local patriotic organization and had extensive connections, to closely monitor Sato and Yamato Co., Ltd. for any unusual activities and to gather intelligence on their movements and contacts, emphasizing strict secrecy. Yong Ge confirmed he would keep their conversation private and agreed to assist. He also noted that simply assassinating Japanese figures was no longer an effective strategy, advocating for a long-term plan, and welcomed all like-minded young people to join their cause.
Migrant Bird acknowledged his advice, promising to consider it seriously. Separately, Du Heng, active in the military, had successfully identified many patriotic individuals and submitted their applications to join the Party. Later, Xiao Beichen approached Sheng Hanjun to apologize for his previous "rudeness," admitting he had mistaken her for his late wife due to her striking resemblance.
Sheng Hanjun, already informed of the situation by Xiao Shuyi, accepted his apology gracefully, remarking that she wouldn't have believed such a resemblance possible without seeing the photograph herself. Xiao Beichen, visibly distraught, confessed his profound remorse, believing Lin Hangjing hated him and her death was his lifelong punishment, which he was powerless to rectify. He then asked Sheng Hanjun if she would give her husband a chance to make amends if she were in such a situation.
Sheng Hanjun replied that as distinct individuals, her answer would not be relevant. She playfully added that she would never give her past boyfriends a second chance, as doing so would have prevented her from meeting Shen Yanqing. She advised Xiao Beichen to move forward, seek new love, and not remain fixated on the past. Xiao Beichen thanked her, acknowledging her words. Xiao Beichen later visited Shen Yanqing's home.
He noticed an oil painting and asked Sheng Hanjun when she had learned to paint. She replied that she started at age ten and still had works displayed at St. Paul's Girls' School. Soon after, Shen Yanqing returned home, and Sheng Hanjun greeted him with warmth, helping him with his coat. Their young son, Shen Ke, then ran in, calling Sheng Hanjun "Mother." Shen Yanqing introduced his three-and-a-half-year-old son to Xiao Beichen, who became deeply disheartened seeing their loving family.
Feeling awkward, Xiao Beichen quickly excused himself, declining their invitation to stay for dinner. After Xiao Beichen left, Sheng Hanjun's cheerful demeanor faded, revealing a somber expression. Shen Yanqing gently comforted her, confirming her true identity as Lin Hangjing.
That night, Shen Yanqing confessed to Lin Hangjing that he was saddened by Xiao Beichen's lonely eyes, a look he had never seen before, and expressed how her return to Beixin City must have brought back the pain of her past ordeal. In response, Lin Hangjing stated that Xiao Beichen's sorrow could never bring back her unborn child. Shen Yanqing offered to apply to the organization for her to withdraw if the mission proved too difficult.
Lin Hangjing, however, reaffirmed her commitment, stating that since the bidding news, the organization had struggled to infiltrate the East Camp, and with Du Heng still in Suiling, she was the most capable person to approach Xiao Beichen. She assured Shen Yanqing that her personal feelings would not compromise their mission. Xiao Beichen received an urgent telegram from his superiors, ordering him to apprehend "Migrant Bird," the Communist Party leader in the Zhibei Delta, who had arrived in Beixin City.
Xiao Beichen responded simply that he was "aware" but stated that the priority was the Beixin Port, and he would not initiate a city-wide search for someone with differing political views. He vowed that the Shanghai massacre would not be repeated in Beixin City. He then instructed Mo Weiyi to temporarily reassign his current secretary, ensuring his pay would continue. Shen Yanqing and Sheng Hanjun paid a visit to the Xiao family.
Sheng Hanjun felt a pang of emotion walking through the familiar house. Xiao Haishan and Madam Qi were visibly shocked by Sheng Hanjun's identical appearance to Lin Hangjing. Sheng Hanjun warmly embraced Madam Qi, and Shen Yanqing quickly explained it was a Western custom. She greeted Xiao Haishan, and, maintaining her persona, fluently spoke of her life in London, her grandfather's company near the Thames, and her childhood memories of finding stock trading boring compared to feeding pigeons.
During dinner, Madam Qi inquired about how Shen Yanqing and Sheng Hanjun met. Shen Yanqing playfully recounted seeing Sheng Hanjun sketching two dogs fighting instead of the landscape, which immediately drew his attention. Sheng Hanjun then teasingly added that Shen Yanqing, despite being an "excellent admirer," had to resort to unusual tactics to win her over.
As the couple prepared to depart, Xiao Beichen mentioned that his secretary had abruptly resigned due to family matters, leaving him in need of assistance for the international bidding of Beixin Port, which required extensive contact with foreigners. Knowing Sheng Hanjun spoke three languages, he asked her to help him. Shen Yanqing initially hesitated, citing Sheng Hanjun's free-spirited nature and questioning her suitability for the precise demands of a secretary.
Xiao Beichen insisted, saying he could think of no one else trustworthy and fluent in foreign languages. Sheng Hanjun then agreed to take the position, but with a few conditions: flexible working hours to accommodate her morning exercises and childcare, no reprimands for mistakes due to her unfamiliarity with military operations, and exclusive news reports for Shen Yanqing's newspaper in exchange for her work. Xiao Beichen accepted all her terms.
Later, Madam Qi confided in Xiao Beichen that she was convinced Sheng Hanjun was not Lin Hangjing. She urged him to accept that Lin Hangjing was truly gone and to let go of his burden, suggesting that Lin Hangjing herself would not want him to suffer. Xiao Beichen, however, insisted he understood the situation and knew what he was doing. Meanwhile, Shen Yanqing expressed his concern to Lin Hangjing, noting Xiao Beichen's newfound cunning.
He suspected Xiao Beichen's seemingly easy acceptance of Sheng Hanjun's identity was a strategic move to test her, warning her to be extremely cautious at the East Camp. Lin Hangjing assured him she would not reveal her true identity. They then discussed the Xiao family's stance on the Japanese. Shen Yanqing believed Xiao Beichen would not personally sign a Mutual Prosperity Agreement, nor would Xiao Haishan betray the country.
However, Xiao Haishan’s loyalty to Jin Cheng made the family's position unpredictable. They feared Jin Cheng might pressure the Xiao family to allow the port to fall into Japanese hands, leading to disastrous consequences. Both agreed that the port must be entrusted to Mr. Han, a reliable partner who had consistently supported patriotic causes. Lin Hangjing vowed to uncover the Xiao family's true allegiance. The following day, Sheng Hanjun reported for duty at the East Camp.
Xiao Beichen provided her with proposals from foreign companies for the Beixin Port bidding, instructing her to translate them into both Chinese and English and submit them to the expert review panel within a week. Sheng Hanjun observed that the "anonymous selection" process seemed fair. Mo Weiyi approached Xiao Beichen, reiterating his warning that superficial resemblances could cloud judgment.
He reminded Xiao Beichen that Lin Hangjing was deceased and Sheng Hanjun was a different person, suggesting that her sudden appearance in Beixin City warranted suspicion regarding her motives. Xiao Beichen acknowledged his concerns but stated he intended to test her, regardless of her intentions. Later, Sheng Hanjun, while filing documents and borrowing a dictionary, casually inquired about a valuable Japanese bonsai gifted to Xiao Beichen. Mo Weiyi quickly intervened, warning her that excessive curiosity was ill-suited for military work.
Sheng Hanjun accepted his caution, promising to focus on her duties. That evening, Lin Hangjing reported her findings to Shen Yanqing. She had only found standard bidding specifications and routine business cooperation documents between the East Camp and the Japanese, with no sign of a "Mutual Prosperity Agreement." She reiterated that the bidding process appeared fair. Their housekeeper, Zhang Ma, then informed them that a lady had specifically approached her, asking questions about Shen Yanqing and Sheng Hanjun.
Both became instantly alert. Shen Yanqing instructed Zhang Ma to respond evasively without revealing any specific information. Lin Hangjing wondered if Xiao Beichen was behind the inquiry, but Shen Yanqing suggested other individuals might be even more keen to discover her true identity. Lin Hangjing then speculated that it could be Zheng Fengqi, given her recent close association with the Japanese. Separately, Mo Weiyi delivered a letter to Xiao Beichen.
Sheng Hanjun, present in the office, pretended to be asleep to observe their interaction. Meanwhile, Xu Zijun continued his persistent pursuit of Xiao Shuyi. He followed her to an orphanage where she volunteered, playing with the children. He reiterated his unwavering affection, reminding her that five years had passed and Shen Yanqing was now married with a child. He offered to wait for her indefinitely.
Xiao Shuyi firmly rejected him, stating that even if she were to give up on Shen Yanqing, she would never consider a relationship with Xu Zijun, admitting she had never cared for him. Xu Zijun, undeterred, declared his "stubbornness" and his absolute refusal to give up.
