My Dear Brothers Episode 20 Recap
> My Dear Brothers Recap
Qiu Li, confined within the Holy Fence in the Devil Cave, is approached by Qi Lingling, who apologizes for her delayed arrival and attempts to free her. Qiu Li stops her, explaining that only a Holy Key can open the barrier. She inquires about the current situation outside. Qi Lingling reports a peaceful coexistence between the Immortal and Devil factions, with them being very close.
However, she warns this superficial peace is fragile, as the Devil Lord is intent on becoming the head of the Alliance and an inevitable conflict with Hou Chi looms. Qiu Li, driven by her desire to help her "brother" (Shi Dong) secure the Alliance Leader position, declares that once liberated, she will personally eliminate Hou Chi and Shi Xia, believing this will reunite her with Shi Dong forever.
Meanwhile, at Shi Dong's milk tea shop, "Mopiao Piao," Shi Xia is enjoying some pungent stinky tofu, driving away all the customers. Shi Dong, having fled the shop himself after failing to get cotton to block the smell, encounters Hou Chi, who seeks his advice on how to be a good brother to Shi Xia, even presenting a detailed "Plan of Being A Brother."
Shi Xia, overhearing, battles her internal conflict, wishing to confess her true romantic feelings to Hou Chi but fearing he only sees her as a sister. Shi Dong advises Hou Chi to be unconditionally obedient to his sister, even when she is unreasonable. Shi Xia then offers them extra spicy stinky tofu, which also contains peanuts, to which she is allergic. Hou Chi forces himself to compliment the taste, while Shi Dong reluctantly eats it.
Shi Dong notices Shi Xia's lack of reaction to the extreme spice and the peanuts. He tests her by offering a banana-flavored milk tea, her most disliked flavor, which she enthusiastically praises. Confronted, Shi Xia admits she lost her sense of taste after her journey to the Dark Forest, trying to minimize its impact and telling Shi Dong not to blame Hou Chi.
However, Hou Chi is deeply moved, understanding the profound loss for Shi Xia, a renowned foodie, and vows to find a cure for her. Yuan Zhao and Yuan Gui discuss Yuan Zhao's strategy of publicly declaring Hou Chi and Shi Xia as siblings. Yuan Zhao, frustrated that Hou Chi remains fixated on Shi Xia despite all attempts to deter him, acknowledges that this tactic is merely a temporary measure during the crucial Alliance Leader selection.
Yuan Gui, observing Hou Chi's persistent closeness with Shi Xia, begins to express doubts about the plan's effectiveness. Later, Hou Chi takes Shi Xia to a secluded spot, presenting her with a soft, pinchable item, recalling her past comment about it being a stress reliever. He expresses his willingness to do anything for her happiness, especially now that she has lost her sense of taste.
Shi Xia asks if his kindness stems solely from their sibling relationship, to which he affirms. She then attempts to articulate the "subtle difference" between a sister and a woman, but before she can finish, Yuan Zhao abruptly appears, pulling Hou Chi away. Back at their residence, Yuan Zhao forces Hou Chi to kneel, reprimanding him for his lack of progress in finding the Garment and reminding him that even immense holy power is useless without it.
He commands Hou Chi to dedicate himself entirely to cultivation and sensing the Garment's presence. After Hou Chi leaves, Yuan Zhao mutters that, having exhausted all other options, he must now resort to a "more merciless" solution. Er Ha reports to the Devil Lord (Shi Dong in disguise), expressing concern that half of their holy power has been expended without any sign of the Garment.
He wonders if the Divine Official is misleading them or if ordinary holy power is insufficient. The Devil Lord then inquires about the Immortal perceptions, which were stolen and confiscated by the Immortal Sect, deeming their waste a pity. Er Ha confidently volunteers to steal them back, despite the Devil Lord's apprehension about the risks involved. The next day, Yuan Gui delivers a jade pendant to Shi Xia, claiming it's a gift from Yuan Zhao, which she finds curiously familiar.
Yuan Zhao explains his rationale to Yuan Gui: this "merciless" decision would free Hou Chi to focus on the Garment search and enable Bi Hong to willingly embrace a mortal life, which he believes is for the best. Bi Hong, acutely aware of Shi Xia's affections for Hou Chi, feels unworthy due to his blindness and believes his father's efforts are futile. He goes to Shi Xia's room to retrieve the jade pendant.
Coincidentally, Hou Chi also arrives, sees the jade pendant, and, recognizing it as his Master's cherished item, joyfully encourages Shi Xia to keep it, misinterpreting it as Yuan Zhao's acceptance of her as his "sister." This profound misunderstanding deeply distresses Shi Xia, confirming her fear that Hou Chi only views her as a sibling. Tearfully, she vows to be his sister for life.
Bi Hong, witnessing this exchange, is baffled by Shi Xia's decision to accept the pendant despite her feelings for Hou Chi. He then expresses his longing to return to Mount Yuhua, to which Yuan Gui responds with frustration. Shi Dong, now revealed to be the Devil Lord, successfully uses the stolen Immortal perceptions to create a "Holy Compass" to locate the Garment.
Anticipating that the Immortal Sect will soon discover the theft, Shi Dong instructs Er Ha to keep Hou Chi distracted. Er Ha notes that Shi Xia is already doing an excellent job of this. The Devil Lord contemplates the delicate balance of keeping Hou Chi and Shi Xia entangled but not too close.
Er Ha proposes a plan: his sister, San Ha, is preparing for her wedding, and Shi Xia, known for her impeccable taste, could help with the dowry arrangements. He reasons that Hou Chi, being so attached to Shi Xia, would surely follow, thus keeping him preoccupied and preventing him from searching for the Garment.
Shi Xia, still saddened by Hou Chi's inability to understand her deeper feelings, dismisses his persistent questions about the "difference between a sister and a woman" and urges him to focus on finding the Garment. Er Ha then approaches Shi Xia with his sister's wedding preparations, and Shi Xia agrees to help. Hou Chi, having followed Shi Xia, is also roped into helping examine the wedding gifts.
He is confused by Er Ha's explanations of "brother-in-law" and "coupled" wedding items, and is particularly perplexed when he notices a jade pendant identical to Bi Hong's. He asks if Yuan Zhao intends for Bi Hong to be his "brother-in-law," and further ponders if a "brother-in-law" is simply another kind of "brother" who protects one's sister, questioning why a sister would need both.
Soon after, Yuan Gui discovers the theft of the Immortal perceptions from their sect, immediately suspecting the Devil faction of using them to find the Garment. Enraged by this desecration, he vows to confront the Devil faction. Meanwhile, Qi Lingling, having retrieved the Holy Key, frees Qiu Li from the Holy Fence.
Qiu Li asks for the Magic Umbrella, an artifact Hou Chi once gave to Bi Hong, revealing her intention to inflict a "Blood Fiend" curse on Hou Chi that activates whenever he harbors romantic feelings for someone. On the street, Yuan Gui encounters Shi Xia and aggressively demands answers about the stolen Immortal perceptions, accusing her faction of conspiracy.
Shi Xia, genuinely ignorant of the theft, denies any involvement, but Yuan Gui, overcome with righteous fury, calls her a "demon girl" and threatens to kill her. Just as Yuan Gui attacks, Bi Hong intervenes, using a defensive artifact against him – an item Yuan Gui himself had given him. Yuan Gui, shocked and disappointed, chastises Bi Hong for his perceived infatuation with Shi Xia and renews his vow to kill her.
Bi Hong, standing firm to protect Shi Xia, urges her to flee and find Hou Chi, assuring her that Yuan Gui will not harm him, while warning Yuan Gui not to push him further.
