My Dear GuardianĀ Episode 12 Recap
> My Dear GuardianĀ Recap
Zhuo Ran reported to the Old Master about the project's progress, acknowledging that while there were some complications, everything was proceeding smoothly overall. The Old Master questioned Zhuo Ranās unusual approach of provoking Liang Muze and involving military personnel. Zhuo Ran explained it was a calculated move to eliminate obstacles and gain complete control over their "daughter card" asset, aligning with the Old Master's strategic goals for China. Zhuo Ran firmly denied any personal motives.
The Old Master then mentioned Zhuo Ranās mother's deteriorating health, noting that her bypassed blood vessels were blocked again and that medication was ineffective, necessitating a heart transplant. He subtly pressured Zhuo Ran to expedite his mission and return, implying his mother's critical surgery depended on Zhuo Ran's prompt action. After the call, Long Yi, who had been listening, voiced his suspicion that Zhuo Ran's involvement with the military major extended beyond the assigned task.
The Old Master, likening his control over Zhuo Ran to holding a kite's string, remained confident in his hold. He then instructed Long Yi to return to China and eliminate Gui, who had been making unauthorized contact with their clients and was becoming overly ambitious. Liang Muze dropped Xia Chu off at the hospital. Before leaving, he asked if she had seen Mi Gu recently, to which Xia Chu replied they had met once after the flood relief mission.
Shortly after Xia Chu departed, Luo Xiaojun messaged Liang Muze, urging him to come to the flower shop immediately. Liang Muze arrived at Chen Mengzhen's flower shop, where he found Zhang Yichi earnestly learning floral arrangement. Zhang Yichi mentioned that Luo Xiaojun's girlfriend, Xuan Xuan, had sent a postcard, and he was there to deliver it.
After greeting Chen Mengzhen, Liang Muze headed upstairs to find Luo Xiaojun, who eagerly asked him to demonstrate some military boxing moves he wanted to perform for Xuan Xuan on her birthday, as he had forgotten parts of the routine. Following the training, Liang Muze returned downstairs and chatted with Zhang Yichi.
Zhang Yichi revealed that Zhuo Ran's company had established a Public Interest Research Fund at their hospital and that Mi Gu planned to produce a documentary about independent bookstores, suggesting Chen Mengzhen's shop for its unique appeal. Liang Muze, observing Zhang Yichi's evident admiration for Chen Mengzhen, sternly warned him against pursuing her, reminding him that she was the widow of his comrade, and implied severe repercussions if she or Luo Xiaojun were to be harmed because of his advances.
As Zhang Yichi prepared to leave, Liang Muze handed him a bottle of pills that Xia Chu had given him, requesting that he have them tested at the toxicology lab, describing it as a difficult favor. Zhang Yichi passed the pills to a colleague for analysis. Xia Chu, passing by, recognized her distinctive smiley face drawing on the bottle, immediately realizing Liang Muze had given her medication to Zhang Yichi for testing.
Her colleague noted that there was something unusual about the pills and promised to provide a detailed report once the full results were available. Feeling deeply wronged and misunderstood by Liang Muze, Xia Chu later confronted him when he came to pick her up. She demanded to know why he had tested her medicine. Liang Muze maintained that the matter was unrelated to her, stating he couldn't explain until the test results were in.
Xia Chu, still feeling aggrieved, declared that they would only meet again after the results were finalized. Meanwhile, Rao Feng contacted Liang Muze, asking him to pick up his daughter, Liang Shaoxue, who was returning to China, as he was unable to meet her himself. Rao Feng then inquired if Liang Muze had encountered any other unusual incidents recently. Liang Muze disclosed that someone had swapped his usual medication, prompting concern from Rao Feng.
In a separate development, Long Yi reported to the Old Master that several of their offshore processing plants had been raided by Gui, who had subsequently fled to China. The Old Master instructed Long Yi to inform Zhuo Ran of this development. A furious Xia Chu stormed over to Mi Gu's apartment to vent her frustrations about Liang Muze. Mi Gu, visibly distressed and guilty, admitted that she was the one who had swapped the pills.
She explained that Zhuo Ran had approached her, expressing concern about Xia Chu's supposed history of misusing sleeping pills after Liang Muze's departure. Zhuo Ran had asked Mi Gu to replace Xia Chu's pills with tranquilizers, assuring her they were harmless placebos. Mi Gu confessed she believed Xia Chu was consuming those pills and acted out of a desire for Xia Chu's well-being. Xia Chu, sensing something amiss, pressed Mi Gu on her unusual closeness to Zhuo Ran.
Mi Gu, with a heavy heart, finally confessed that Zhuo Ran was the man she had fallen in love with at first sight at the airport and that she hadn't revealed it earlier to avoid complicating things. After Xia Chu left, Mi Gu immediately called Zhuo Ran to inform him that Xia Chu was now aware of the pill swap and that Liang Muze was having the medication tested.
During the call, Zhuo Ran reassured Mi Gu that the pills were harmless, while Mi Gu expressed her distress over potentially losing Xia Chu's friendship while also being drawn to him. Simultaneously, the Old Master was overheard giving the order for Gui's elimination. Zhuo Ran then told Mi Gu that perhaps missing out on him might be a blessing, but Mi Gu asserted her right to make her own choices.
Xia Chu, overcome with guilt and uncertainty, hesitated outside Liang Muze's apartment. Just as Liang Muze was about to leave to look for her, he saw her. He questioned why she was standing outside, and Xia Chu revealed she had found a new place and intended to pack her belongings and move out that very night.
Liang Muze adamantly refused to let her leave, explaining that he had installed surveillance cameras for security and that they had captured Mi Gu swapping his pills. Xia Chu, feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, insisted on leaving. Liang Muze, still blocking her path, then asked her for a significant favor: to pick up his cousin, Liang Shaoxue, who was returning to China and would also be staying at his apartment.
He described Liang Shaoxue as having adult ADHD, difficulty concentrating, issues with emotional control, and intermittent depression, cautioning Xia Chu to be extremely mindful of her condition. Liang Muze appealed to Xia Chu's medical background, emphasizing that he trusted no one else with Liang Shaoxue's care. Their entire conversation was being secretly monitored by Zhuo Ran. In his own space, Zhuo Ran was using 3D printing technology to craft a small handgun.
He then reflected on his past: during his senior year of high school, his father, Pei Yongyan, a drug trafficker, had been eliminated by a team led by Liang Muze. During this time, he and his mother were apprehended by the Old Master's people. To ensure their survival, Zhuo Ran had desperately pleaded with the Old Master for refuge, pledging his unwavering loyalty.
Simultaneously, intelligence on Gui's movements was being tracked: Gui's ID was detected at Xiong's company, and he was planning a transaction with an individual named "Buddhist" at the Wenhui Hotel the day after tomorrow, coinciding with a medical forum. While police were monitoring Xiong and aware of an impending transaction, the identity of the other party remained unknown to them. Zhuo Ran confirmed that Gui's true target was Xia Guang Yuan, whom Gui sought to replace the Old Master.
Zhuo Ran then contacted Mi Gu, asking her to open her window, revealing he was watching her from outside, and mentioned he knew she was covering the upcoming medical forum, hinting at a favor he would soon ask. The test results for the pills came in, and Zhang Yichi relayed the information to Liang Muze. While the pills weren't strictly toxic, they weren't entirely safe either.
They were identified as 3D-printed drugs, easily dissolving in water due to their porous structure. Their main components were several traditional Chinese herbs intended for calming and sedative effects. However, they contained an excessive amount of an adjuvant called aristolochia debilis. Long-term consumption of this specific compound carried a significant risk of developing liver cancer.
Zhang Yichi inquired about Liang Muze's intentions for such a drug, hinting at a possible assassination, but Liang Muze simply instructed him to keep the pills safe and await further instructions.
